Planning trips - how to use google earth to scout campsites, trails, etc

[doctor patches]

I'm starting to hike more and more, and I'm running out of places i know, plus i'd like some variety in destinations and routes. I've started to use google earth with some planning for trips like JMT section hikes, as the maps are readily available, but how can i use this or other tools to their max potential for scouting/planning? anyone else use tools to discover new and unknown hikes, routes, destinations, etc?

[pgibson]

I have a list of several pieces of software I use to scout spots to hike and potential camp spots. Google Earth is one of the first places I look. First I would be sure to turn off most things that are on the "layers" drop down on the left. I select just a couple things from the list individually, #1 being the photos. When you zoom into a fairly tight level you can see a little photo icon and you will get pictures uploaded from users for the area. Lots of times in the mountains those are scenery rathe than camp spots but you can still get a sense for the lay of the land...dead trees or living, thick forest or sparse.

[Redoleary]

I'll look at an area on Google earth and find some detail from something that interests me, like the name of a trail, river or lake then go to YouTube and search for the name. I'm not trying to learn every detail about the area but you can glean a lot of information from a few YouTube videos. Many start with the drive in so you get an idea for what the road is like how the trail head is etc.

[doctor patches]

Thanks for the advice, Paul. I've used google earth around my cabin in Donnelly, ID to scout for high mountain lakes to do some fly fishing, so i definitely understand what you mean about "un-cluttering" the layers so you can see more.

I wonder if there are any services i can plug into and get existing hike paths, marked campsites, etc? Too bad i can't sync my starred locations from google maps to google earth yet, either.

[Tendertoe]

I wonder if there are any services i can plug into and get existing hike paths, marked campsites, etc? Too bad i can't sync my starred locations from google maps to google earth yet, either.

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/Search/FindTrips.aspx

You can download a KML file and get into Google Earth from here. Doesn't have every trail but has some.

[OutandBack]

My garmin GPS software allows me to draw up a track (trail) and then it has a feature I can overlay it to google earth to see what is near the track.

[OneClick]

It sure is nice to have all the technology to find new places and make the planning so much easier. But that also means these "hidden" places are no longer hidden, soon to be littered with beer cans and whittled tree stumps

I use a mix of tools including:
Gaia GPS - AWESOME app
Google Earth - drawing routes and uploading them to offline maps in Gaia GPS (vise versa)
Bing maps - nice birds eye view (not available in all areas)
Gmap4 - topos, aerials, basically every type of map you need
Google image search - just to see what others already discovered
Youtube - same as above

[TallPaul]

I'll add Hillmap.com to markr6's list. Similar to GMap4. You can mark up trails, and I like how you can split screen topo & satellite.

One of the things I have learned recently is using a (better) image editor.
In the past, I would throw something into Paint and then mark it up (crudely, but quickly).

I wanted to do a bit more, so I learned how to use an editor that allowed me to use layering. The free tool I chose was from GetPaint.net, but there are others like Gimp.org that will do similiar.

OK so why do this? Here's what I was able to produce. My custom snorkel map & kayak

Anyway, you get the idea.. you can take a image & add a bunch of your own info on top of it.

[brianb]

Hey guys, you should check out http://caltopo.com as well. I like uploading my saved GPX files from my phone to keep track of my outings.

Good luck, Brian

[MissileMan]

I also like browse everytrail.com where people log trips with photos and GPS. You can also find free topos and some trails for your GPS at gpsfiledepot.com.